Eye gaze detection apparatus and eye gaze detection method

Abstract

An eye gaze detection apparatus includes a plurality of illuminators each including a light source for emitting light and disposed symmetrically with respect to a predetermined position, a plurality of imaging units each disposed at an inner or outer position with respect to the plurality of illuminators, a position detector configured to detect a first position indicating a pupil center and a second position indicating a corneal reflection center based on an image of an eyeball of a subject, the image being captured by the imaging unit with the light emitted by the illuminator, and a calculator configured to calculate a fourth position indicating a corneal curvature center, based on the predetermined position, a third position on a display, the first position, and the second position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-217651 filed in Japan on Oct. 24, 2014.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an eye gaze detection apparatus and an eye gaze detection method.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]An eye gaze detection apparatus has been proposed for detecting a gaze position of an operator or a subject on a viewing surface such as a monitor screen. For example, a method to achieve a non-contact eye gaze detection that reliably detects an eye gaze direction without attaching any device to a face of the subject has been known. With this method, an on-eyeball reflection of light emitted from a light source is detected to calculate a pupil center and a corneal curvature center, and then a line that connects the pupil center and the corneal curvature center is d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an eye gaze detection apparatus that can capture images of an eye and detect the pupil center, corneal reflection center, and corneal curvature center based on the position of the illuminators and imaging units. This apparatus can provide more accurate information for eye gaze detection and analysis.

Problems solved by technology

The methods stated in the above-described documents, however, have had a problem that the apparatus to detect an eye gaze with high accuracy becomes complicated in configuration and large in size.

This is because if the distance between the two light sources is too short, the two reflection points might overlap, making it difficult to separate them from each other.

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